Srinagar, Nov 3, KDC: Amid continuing discontent within the ruling National Conference (NC) following the recent Cabinet expansion, around 10 legislators of Jammu and Kashmir held another closed-door meeting at the residence of Tangmarg MLA Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah in Gulberg Colony, Hyderpora, Srinagar, on Tuesday evening.
Sources told news agency Kashmir Dot Com that the gathering was attended by several NC legislators, including MLA Lolab Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, MLA Bijbehara Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri, MLA Javid Mirchal, Hasnain Masoodi, former Assembly Speaker Mubarak Gul and MLA Gurez Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, among others.
The meeting was a follow-up to the October 30 gathering of NC legislators, with discussions centred on the demands already convyed to the party leadership. Sources said the legislators deliberated on the future course of action and discussed a collective strategy to pursue their demands with the NC leadership. The issues raised in their earlier meeting, including the proposed Cabinet reshuffle, changes in ministerial responsibilities, removal of the Chief Minister’s advisor and better coordination between the government and party legislators, reportedly formed the main agenda of Tuesday’s closed-door meeting.
The latest meeting comes on the day when Aga Ruhullah tendered his resignation from the National Conference and as Srinagar MP and days after 18 NC legislators assembled at the Srinagar residence of Qaiser Jamsheed Lone on October 30, triggering political speculation over growing differences within the party following Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s Cabinet expansion on October 27.
Earlier, the legislators discussed organisational and political concerns and decided to constitute a four-member delegation headed by Nazir Ahmad Gurezi and Thanamandi MLA Muzafar Iqbal Khan to convey their grievances to NC president Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, reported news agency Kashmir Dot Com.
The legislators had also raised concerns over the functioning of the government, ministerial performance and the handling of issues discussed at an earlier meeting in Dachigam.
The October 27 Cabinet expansion saw four NC legislators — Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shamima Firdous and Altaf Ahmad Wani — inducted into the Council of Ministers, while Independent MLA Satish Sharma was dropped.
Although the party leadership has played down reports of a rebellion, describing the developments as democratic differences and internal discussions, the latest gathering is likely to draw attention to the continuing political unease within the ruling party. (KDC)